BAE systems gears up for new R.N. DDGs

Sea Power, Dec 2000

BAE Systems Marine's Scotstoun shipyard on the River Clyde, the builder selected for the Daring, first of the U.K. Royal Navy's Batch Type 45 air-defense destroyers, is well into planning for the program. The affordability of the program could be a major issue, program officials said, and may require radical changes to how the yard does its business.

Subject to satisfactory negotiations, a contract is expected to be placed with the company by the Prime Contract Office "within the very near future," officials said. A second contract will cover assembly of the third ship, as yet unnamed, irrespective of which subcontractor does the steelwork.

Work on the Daring will involve an estimated 1,500 people; production is expected to begin in the spring of 2002.

The Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) plans a new approach for the Type 45 program, breaking the 12 ships down into "intermediate products." Sections will be built and partially outfitted at different sites and brought together for final assembly at the designated shipyard. The Type 45 team at Scotstoun has just completed a key design review for the DPA. This paves the way for a move forward to the main contract for the design and construction of the Daring.

The second of class, Dauntless, will be ordered from Vosper Thornycroft U.K. Ltd., but the Woolston yard is being closed, so production is to be moved to a new site in the naval base at Portsmouth, 18 miles away.